Crate



(N0 Modem D. A. ROSS.

CRATE. No. 426,858. v Patented Apr. 29, 1890.

@513 (l-Niozwmgo UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUANE A. ROSS, OF ILION, NEW YORK.

CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,858, dated April29, 1890.

Application filed December 17, 1889. Serial No. 334,133. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DUANE A. Boss, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Ilion, in the county of I-Ierkimer and State of NewYork,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Crates, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being had therein tothe accompanying drawings.

My invention pertains to an improvement in crates or cases designedchiefly for shipping, transporting, displaying, and storing marketvegetables, fruits, or other commodities; and it consists in thepeculiar construction, combination, and arrangement of the parts,substantially as hereinafter more fully shown and described.

The object of my device is to produce a light, attractive, strong,durable, and ventilated receptacle for purposes above indicated,affording the greatest possible convenience in handling and displayingcontents and economizin g space occupied in transportation or storage,the crates or cases being so constructed as to interlock firmly whentiered one upon another to any height.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of three of my crates secured one uponthe other, the cover of the top one being removed. Fig. 2 is a plan viewof one of my crates, the partitions being removed. Fig. 3 is an endelevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 5is a detail showing more particularly how the bottom is secured. Fig. 6shows the wire-gauze applied as a cover.

In constructing my crate or case the vertical staves a spaced apart, arefitted flush against the horizontal bottom slats a which latter,suitably spaced, are lodged in recesses 0, formed in the clamps a ashort distance above the lower edge thereof, thus raising the bottom ofthe crate above the reach of dirt or dampness, and providing aninterlocking space to receive the top of the crate, onto which it may betiered. The ends of these clamping-pieces are secured to each other bynails and metallic clasps to form the securing-band, to which thevertical posts and staves are preferably secured by clinched nails. Theupper band, which forms a continuous handle around the crate or case, is

in like manner rigidly secured to the vertical pieces at proper distancebelow their top, al-

lowin'g them to project into the space beneath the bottom of the crateabove in tiering or to receive a cover. Verticalcorner-supports a,preferably in form of triangular posts, beveled slightly at the top at aon their outer sides, are disposed in the corners of each case or crate,the beveled portion a rising above the tops of the staves to serve asguides and supports in tiering the crates or retaining a cover. Lightvertical partitionsof wood I) or other suitable material are insertedwhen desired, extending from side to side, the ends being sustainedwithin the spaces between the staves. These, with suitable spacedcross-partitions, divide the crate or case into such number ofcompartments as may be at any time required.

The lid or cover of the crate consists of horizontal slats spaced apartand nailed to the side pieces which form the inclosing-band, the cornersbeing secured by metallic clasps.

It will be observed that the bottom of my crate or case is firmlysecured into the channels or recesses in its inclosing-band, and intiering up rests at each corner upon the top of the corner-supports ofthe crate next beneath it, while the inclosing-band also rests upon theupper or handle band below, inclosing the tops of the vertical stavesand supports. By thus interlocking the tops and bottoms my crates may besecurely disposed one upon another to any desired height for conveniencein transportation or economy of space in storing.

In constructing my wire-gauze cover D, I employ the side strips (Z, onthe inner side of which I form recess d, in which is designed to fit astrip or fastener (1 the edges of the wire-gauze (Z being secured orclamped in said recess (1' by the strip (1 Thus constructed, a complete,efficient, and inexpensive crate or case is produced.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a crate, the lower inclosing-band channeled to receive thehorizontal slats or bottom above its lower edge, in combination with theside or perpendicular staves, the upper clampin g-band, and thetriangular corner uprights, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a crate, the combination, with the lower inclosing band channeledabove its lower edge, the horizontal or bottom slats, the vertical sideslats, and the triangular corner uprights projected above the upperiuclosingband to serve as a guide, substantially as shown and described.

In a crate, the lower band or frame recessed about the center thereoffor reception of the horizontal bottoln slats, in combination with theside or vertical slats, the upper clamping-band, and the triangularcorner uprights or posts beveled on their upper ends to serve as a guidefor the cover, substantially as shown and described.

4:. In a crate, a coverhavingits framechanneled above its lower edge,the St'BCllllllg-StllPS designed to fit therein, and the wire-gauzecovering having its edges clamped in the channel in the frame by thesecuring-strips, in combination with the crate-body havingthe cornerguideposts and the upper clampingband, substantially as shown anddescribed.

5. In a crate,a coverhavingits:frtuneclntnneled above its lower edge,the securing-strips designed to lit therein, and the wire-gauze eovering having its edges clamped in the channel in the frame by theseeuring-strips, in combination with the crate-body having the upperclamping-band, and the triangular corner guide-posts projected abovesaid upper clamping-band and beveled on their upper ends to serve as aguide for the cover, substantially as shown and described. (5. In acrate, the lower band or frame channeled above its lower edge, thehorizontal bottom slats fitted therein, the vertical side slats, theupper clamping-band, the triangular corner-posts having their endsprojected above the upper clam ping-band, and the cover consisting ofthe wire-woven top having its edges secured in the channeled frame bythe clainping-strips, substantially as shown and. described.

In testimony whereof I ai'lix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUANE A. ROSS. \Vitnesses:

h. A. 'lnnnv, lAU 1'. W. STEVENS.

